Webwise: Get your browser runnin’ and head out on the highway

If you were in London last weekend it would have been hard to miss the roar of V8 engines as the ill-fated Gumball rally got under way. But you don't have to be a millionaire or own a Ferrari to enjoy the simple pleasures of loading up your car, turning up the stereo and heading out on an adventure with a gang of friends.

As every road-movie fan knows, however, these expeditions can be anything but predictable. Happily the web can help ensure your trip is a success. Online you can plot your perfect drive and choose your ideal vehicle. You can also find the essential survival kit, and a guide to creating the most essential of accompaniments: the road trip mood music.

CHOOSING YOUR ROUTE

If America is the mother of all road movies, Route 66 is the mother of all roads. Its legendary status is maintained by sites